Sunday, September 27, 2015

Highly-anticipated releases from Don Henley, Gary Clark Jr. and Bruce Sudano, as well as a historic concert featuring guitar icons Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin are out now.Artist: Don HenleyTitle: Cass County (Capitol)You might like if you enjoy: The Eagles, Merle Haggard, Martina McBrideTell me more: Fifteen years after his last solo album (2000's Inside Job), Don Henley has returned with a full-on country album Cass County (aptly named after the region of Texas where he grew up). The 68-year-old singer-songwriter calls on a star-studded cast of the celebrated likes of Mick Jagger, Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Dolly Parton and Martina McBride across the 16-track deluxe edition on an album that works as a musical celebration of Henley's country influences simultaneously enriched via introspective lyrics that examine love, loss and life with poetic candor. The majority of songs here are mid-tempo or ballads, adorned with acoustic guitar, piano, mandolin, harmonica and pedal steel. The lead-off track, a take on singer-songwriter Tift Merritt's "A Bramble Rose," is a spirited treat with Henley, Lambert and Jagger sharing lead vocals; even more powerful is a poignant "Cost Of Living" where Haggard uses his rich baritone . A reworking of the Louvin Brothers' "When I Stop Dreaming" is a lovely old-time country duet where Henley and Parton blend their voices together beautifully. The album closes out with a great Eagles-styled country rocker, "Where I Am Now" with Henley celebrating his rewarding life. A key point here; definitely purchase the deluxe edition of Cass County with its four essential bonus tracks. Information: donhenley.com.Purchase "Cass County" [Deluxe Edition] here

Artist: Gary Clark Jr.Title: The Story of Sonny Boy Slim (Warner Bros.)You might like if you enjoy: Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin GayeTell me more: Edgy and smooth, eclectic and experimental, Gary Clark Jr.'s The Story of Sonny Boy Slim is not a conventional listen. It is, however, one of the best albums of 2015, and is bolstered by Clark's heavy contributions on lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards. Fans of the Austin, Texas native's Jimi Hendrix-meets-Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar-steeped blues rock will find that sound here, but it is masterfully blended with soul, R&B and gospel. For example, Clark delves headlong into heavy blues-rock on both "The Healing" and "Grinder," but then dives into '70s soul territory with his sweet falsetto on "Star" and via the '50s-flavored ballad "Our Love." A mixture of retro- and genre-mashing tunes follow including gospel-folk-blues ("Church"), R&B (the horn section-enhanced "Hold On," modernistic "Wings"), and funk rock ("Can't Sleep"). Everywhere Clark's guitar play is a marvel. Information: garyclarkjr.com.Get 'The Story of Sonny Boy Slim' here

Artist: Santana & McLaughlinTitle: Invitation to Illumination – Live at Montreux 2011 (Eagle Rock Entertainment)You might like if you enjoy: Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, Craig Chaquico, Jeff BeckTell me more: Guitar greats Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin performed a historic concert together at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 1, 2011, blending rock, jazz, prog-rock and blues that is now available on the two-disc audio CD Invitation to Illumination – Live at Montreux 2011. The concert features most of the selections from the guitarists' 1973 album "Love Devotion Surrender," and other material that allows the players to showcase their talents. A creative instrumental medley where they rework Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," Led Zepplin's "Stairway to Heaven" and other works together is an early highlight, as is the dazzling "Vuelta Abajo" and "Vashkar." Later in the set, they artfully trade and mirror licks on "Venus / Upper Egypt." Information: eagle-rock.com.Purchase "Invitation To Illumination - Live At Montreux 2011" [2 CD] here

Tell me more: On celebrated singer-songwriter Bruce Sudano's newly-issued album The Burbank Sessions, a winning mix of uptempo roots rock, blues, jazz and other styles serve to enhance songs that boast arrangements that are creatively steeped in the rich American songwriter tradition. Among the wonderful songs offered up on the seven-song disc are the genre-blending "One Beautiful Life," reggae-tinged "These Shoes" and buoyant rocker "Why Aren't You Here." While Sudano (who has penned hits for his late wife Donna Summer, as well as Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire) and his Candyman Band can gracefully fire away with power, they also offer up decidedly nuanced material (notably the ballad "September In Your Eyes" and heartfelt "Alone") that showcases Sudano's wide-ranging powers as a singer and songwriter. Information: brucesudano.com.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Don Henley's new album 'Cass County' is excellent! My review of the album is posted in the latest issue of Desert Star Weekly, and will be posted on this site tomorrow. Here is the official media release (unedited) that arrived in my inbox this morning...

Don Henley's new album 'Cass County' is out today

"**** Henley has made an album of quietly defiant pure-country modernism...Everything in the music serves the sting and solace in the tales." - Rolling Stone

Don Henley's first solo album in 15 years - Cass County - was released today by Capitol Records and is available now at all music retailers, including iTunes and Amazon, and in the artist's official online store. The Target deluxe edition includes two exclusive tracks - Henley's duet with Stevie Nicks, "It Don't Matter To The Sun," and "Here Come Those Tears Again," which features harmony vocals by Vince Gill and Alison Krauss.

In support of the album release, the North American Cass County Tour 2015 kicks off October 3 in Phoenix, Arizona, and each ticket ordered online through the primary ticket outlet will also receive a Cass County deluxe CD. Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin will open on all the dates. See itinerary below or visit http://www.donhenley.com/events.

"After a life in the fast lane, Don Henley is finding his way home," observed Anthony Mason, who profiled Henley for "CBS Sunday Morning" in this feature, which was shot in Linden - the Cass County, TX town where the GRAMMY®-winning singer-songwriter grew up. Henley performed "Too Much Pride," one of Cass County's 11 original songs, on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" earlier this week. View his performance HERE.

Don Henley recently received the Lifetime Achievement Trailblazer Award at the 14th Annual Americana Awards, which will be broadcast on PBS on November 21 as part of this season's "Austin City Limits." His SiriusXM Town Hall appearance, which aired on Outlaw Country, was moderated by longtime friend Bob Seger and "Don Henley In Conversation with Billy Joel," which took place at New York City's 92nd Street Y, was livestreamed on the Live Nation Channel on Yahoo Screen.

Recorded primarily in Nashville, TN, and Dallas, TX, Cass County was produced by Henley and Stan Lynch, who also co-wrote 11 of the songs on the album. It includes guest appearances by Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Mick Jagger, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood,Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill and Dolly Parton. View the official video for "When I Stop Dreaming" featuring Dolly PartonHERE and the video for "Take A Picture of This" HERE.

"Henley has made an album of quietly defiant pure-country modernism...Everything in the music serves the sting and solace in the tales," said David Fricke in a four-star review for Rolling Stone.American Songwriter also awarded Cass Countyfour stars, calling it "arguably Henley's finest solo work" while US Weekly hailed it as "All your ears will want to listen to for the rest of 2015" in a four-star review. NPR, which premiered the album as a "First Listen" in the week leading up to its release, praised it as "true to his roots" and USA Today noted, "the emotional but unsentimental album draws on the music and the land of Henley's youth, but it doesn't dwell there."

"From a songwriting standpoint, solo Henley isn't far removed from Eagles Henley, exploring the nuances of lives that play out in a small town ('Waiting Tables'), dreams thwarted by forces beyond one's control ('Praying for Rain') and offering a pointed twist on the good-ol'-days nostalgia that's so popular in country of late ('Take a Picture of This')," said the Los Angeles Times.

Cass County is available as a 12-song standard CD and digital album, as well as a 16-track deluxe version, available on CD, digitally and a double disc, 180 gram Vinyl LP. A super deluxe version, seen HERE, includes a 50-page booklet with exclusive photos, collector postcards, deluxe CD album and deluxe Vinyl (2-Disc 180 Gram) and can be purchased in Henley'sofficial online store. A limited number of bundles are also offered, including a T-shirt and 12X12 lithograph.

Don Henley, both as solo artist and as a member of the Eagles, has received many accolades, including eight GRAMMY® Awards, numerous gold and platinum records and performed sold-out concert tours worldwide. A respected, popular and critically celebrated musical artist, Henley is a founding member, vocalist and songwriter of the Eagles that has become one of the most influential bands in America. Henley's solo career is acclaimed with such hits as Dirty Laundry, Heart Of The Matter, Boys Of Summer, The End Of The Innocence, and All She Wants To Do Is Dance. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, and will receive the 2015 Kennedy Center honors later this year, as a member of the Eagles.

Henley's career as a musician and activist continues to evolve. In 1990, he founded the Walden Woods Project (www.walden.org), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting the historic woods in Massachusetts where author/philosopher Henry David Thoreau first championed the concept of land conservation. The Project, celebrating its 25th anniversary has protected vast tracts of Walden Woods from the threat of commercial development, has created a highly acclaimed environmental educational initiative for students (www.worldwidewaldens.org) and maintains the most important library of Thoreau-related research material in the world. In addition, Henley founded the Caddo Lake Institute in his native East Texas, a privately operating foundation to act as an "ecosystem-specific" sponsoring entity, underwriting local wetland science and conservation education including cultural and ecological research and monitoring. Henley also co-founded the Recording Artists' Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group formed to represent the interests of recording artists.

Monday, September 21, 2015

This is a welcome media release and truly celebrates the best thing about last night's Emmy Awards broadcast.

Eva Cassidy returns to iTUNES Top 10 following Emmy Awards Broadcast

Her Classic Rendition of "Over the Rainbow" was heard by millions during the "In Memoriam" Tribute at last night's telecast

Eva Cassidy, the versatile, much-missed vocalist praised for her emotional range and interpretive skills, returns to the Top 10 of the iTunes Singer Songwriter Chart following last night broadcast of the 67th Annual Emmy Awards. Cassidy, who earned an international audience and critical acclaim following her death in 1996 at the age of 33, was heard singing her signature version of "Over the Rainbow" as accompaniment to the awards show's In Memoriam tribute that honored the passing of major figures in the television industry during the past year.

Cassidy's "Over the Rainbow" is the centerpiece of Seattle-based independent Blix Street Records' 1998 release SONGBIRD, which introduced Cassidy to the world. It was in 2001 that music enthusiasts sat up and took notice of Cassidy's compelling way with a song; that was the year that SONGBIRD hit the top of the British album charts and captivated audiences the world over. SONGBIRD has now been certified Platinum in the U.S., and the Eva Cassidy catalog of 10 albums from Blix Street have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. The song is also available on the compilation THE BEST OF EVA CASSIDY, released in 2012.

A new Eva Cassidy CD entitled NIGHTBIRD, comprised of the complete Blues Alley concert performances from January, 1996, will be released by Blix Street in time for this year's holiday season. LIVE AT BLUES ALLEY, containing highlights from that nightclub engagement at the legendary Washington, DC venue, was the final album by Cassidy completed before her death.

Born in Washington, DC, Eva Cassidy recorded and performed in the area for several years until her untimely death from melanoma in 1996. She left behind a small, but impeccable body of recordings that have been meticulously curated and compiled by Blix Street Records with the support of her parents, Barbara and Hugh Cassidy.

The Wall Street Journal praised her "perfect pitch, impeccable timing and vulnerability" and USA Today cited her "emotional ability to reach the depths of any song." These were in evidence during the emotional segment at last night's Emmy broadcast seen around the world.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

If variety is indeed the spice of life, look no further than a slew of September releases featuring the far-flung likes of Jeff Lynne's ELO, Los Angeles-spawned rockers Los Lobos, British quartet Duran Duran and a special reissue of the first "Mystery Science Theater 3000" featuring an infamous B move with an appearance by Little Richard and several other early rock acts.

Artist: Jeff Lynne's ELOTitle: Live in Hyde Park (Eagle Rock Entertainment)You might like if you enjoy: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), The Beatles, PugwashTell me more: There is little doubt that Jeff Lynne and Electric Light Orchestra (better known as "ELO") are back. In September 2014, singer-songwriter-guitarist Lynne and ELO performed before 50,000 fans at Hyde Park as part of BBC Radio 2's "Festival In A Day." The wonderful event has been fully captured on a new concert film that finds Lynne and company delivering epics versions of more than a dozen ELO classics. The uptempo "All Over The World," '70s-styled rocker "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle," masterful BBC Concert Orchestra showcase "10538 Overture" and sweeping "Mr. Blue Sky" are among the great songs performed. Lynne also pays tribute to his late friends Roy Orbison and George Harrison with a poignant take of the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care."Live in Hyde Park is available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital formats. The bonus features on the title prove to be icing on the cake to be sure. Information: eagle-rock.com.Get 'Live in Hyde Park [Blu-ray]' hereArtist: Los LobosTitle: Gates Of Gold (429 Records)You might like if you enjoy: Los Lobos, the Latin Playboys, Los Super SevenTell me more: Whether performing rootsy rock, folk, blues or Tex-Mex rock, legendary outfit Los Lobos displays a creative wide-ranging spirit across the aptly-titled Gates Of Gold. Things lead off with the infectious roots rocker "Made To Break Your Heart," but the band turns things around with a wistful track ("When We Were Free") that blends rock and free-form jazz. No matter whether playing blistering blues rock ("Mis-Treater Boogie Blues," "Two Small Heart"), traditional Mexican music ("Poquito Para Aqui," "La Tumba Sera El Final"), Americana ("Gates Of Gold," "Song Of The Sun") or acoustic blues ("I Believed You So"), long-time members/songwriters David Hidalgo, Louie Perez and Cesar Rosas have an otherworldly ability to ensure all the sonic elements fit together perfectly. Information: 429records.com or loslobos.org.Get 'Gates Of Gold' on CD here

Artist: Duran DuranTitle: Paper Gods (Warner Bros.)You might like if you enjoy: Duran Duran, Arcadia, Mark RonsonTell me more: More than 35 years into their run, British group Duran Duran remains relevant, mixing the best of their early '80s New Wave synth sounds with modern-day dance stylings via contributions from several guest vocalists and musicians (including former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante) on their latest album Paper Gods. The heavy dance gem "Last Dance In The City" features Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon sharing vocals with Canadian singer Kiesza; equally propulsive is the disc's first single "Pressure Off" featuring Duran Duran joining forces with soul-funk singer Janelle Monáe and former Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers. Duran Duran turns in one of its greatest-ever ballads with the tender "What Are The Chances?" (Le Bon's voice sounds better than ever), while the blend of electronica and pop on "Only In Dreams" and "The Universe Alone" are enhanced by several experimental flourishes. Information: duranduran.com.Buy 'Paper Gods (Deluxe)' here

Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume 1 (Shout! Factory)You might like if you enjoy: Mystery Science Theater 3000, Little Richard, Mary WellsTell me more: Shout! Factory has reissued an expanded version of its long-out-of-print Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume 1 collection. The groundbreaking movie-mocking TV series never got it wrong in terms of selecting choice B movies to skew, while interspersing the film with skits and songs that featured original and intelligent comedy in spades. Volume 1 kicks off with an episode featured in Season 2 of MST3K, the 1967 beach party film Catalina Caper noteworthy for its appearance by rocker Little Richard singing "Scuba Party," a song he co-wrote with film composer Jerry Long. Often forgotten too was a performance by The Cascades singing the Ray Davies-penned "There's a New World" on screen and Mary Wells singing the song "Never Steal Anything Wet" over the closing credits. Other choice Crown International Pictures clunkers featured on "Volume 1" include Bloodlust, The Creeping Terror and The Skydivers. Information: shoutfactory.com or mst3k.com.Buy 'Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume 1' today

Artist: Pop4

Title: Summer (Pop4)

You might like if you enjoy: Moonpools & Caterpillars, Susanna Hoffs, Pugwash

Tell me more: There are joyful echos of Electric Light Orchestra, The Beatles, Matthew Sweet, Moonpools & Caterpillars and a wide range of melodic rock icons across the aptly-titled Pop4 release Summer. The 16-track power-pop collection definitely conjures up long, warm summer days with a plethora of bright melodies and harmonies. Highlights on the album include the a capella "I Will Become Love," the driving "Blow Wind Blow," ELO-mining "Einstein and Sunshine" ("Mr. Blue Sky" is an obvious rhythmic reference here) and baroque pop standout "You're No Aimee Mann." Information: facebook.com/pop4musicquartet.

After nearly twenty five years and counting as a member of elbow and one of the world’s most recognized and celebrated musicians and lyricists, Guy Garvey is setting off alone for the first time. Today, the esteemed artist revealed his first track “Angela’s Eyes,” taken from his solo debut “Courting the Squall” which is due for release in Spring 2016 in North America. “Angela’s Eyes” is available now in the U.S on Spotify.

Recorded initially at Real World Studios near Bath, U.K and completed at Blueprint Studios in Salford, U.K, “Courting the Squall” features a band created by Guy from his “favourite musicians outside elbow’” and was driven by spontaneity and experimentation amongst the assembled players with Guy firmly and exclusively in the driving seat. The band “moved fast and drank a lot,” focusing on live recording with minimal overdubs to create the songs. Unlike elbow, where democracy has always ruled, this is an album where Guy embraced the freedom to do exactly what he felt throughout.

“Courting the Squall” is powered by influences and ideas that “don’t fit the elbow template.” Some tracks, notably “Angela’s Eyes,’” come completely from groove, finding a sweet spot between Manchester’s baggy past, long term love Tom Waits and Bowie’s mid-70’s albums, particularly “Sound and Vision.” This change of type engendered a change of vocal approach, a clipped and more direct Garvey voice coming across, a hark back to his early days writing lyrics influenced by his listening to hip-hop where short delivery carries rhythm alongside meaning.

Lyrical concerns encompass those familiar to Guy’s past work at times, the big themes of love and friendship, the lure of his Northern homeland but tracks and lyrics were not always pre-planned. On one occasion a bird observed from the window of the recording studio became the catalyst for the music, at other times a loose jam approach crystallized both lyrically and musically into a finished composition. There were no rules.

Having guested on various artist’s albums as a vocalist, “Courting the Squall” sees Guy duet on his own music again with the likes of Jolie Holland, conjuring up images of illicit jazz dives in fin de siècle Paris or prohibition era New York.

It is, as with all solo albums, a glimpse into its creator’s soul. Shot through with warmth and emotional intelligence, content and comfortable in its own skin, “Courting the Squall” is that most unique thing; a record made without preconditions, an album of songs made purely for the joy of its making.

Guy Garvey plans to return to North America in early 2016 along with the release of this highly anticipated ”Courting The Squall” release.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Johnny Marr will release
his debut live solo album Adrenalin Baby on October 9, 2015. Adrenalin Baby documents his energetic live performances over the past three years across a
double album.

Recorded primarily at
his Brixton Academy and Manchester Apollo shows during Marr’s “Playland” tour
in support of his top 10 solo albums The Messenger and Playland. In addition to
material from his solo albums, Adrenalin Baby also features takes on The Smiths
classics “The Headmaster Ritual,” “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” “There Is A Light
That Never Goes Out” and “How Soon is Now?”

The album will be
released on digital, limited edition and numbered pink coloured double-vinyl
(with a poster) and audio CD formats. Here is the tracklisting:

Playland / The Right Thing Right / Easy Money / 25 Hours / New Town Velocity / The Headmaster Ritual / The Messenger / Back In The Box / Generate! Generate! / Bigmouth Strikes Again / Boys Get Straight / Candidate / Getting Away With It / There Is A Light That Never Goes Out / Dynamo / I Fought The Law / How Soon Is Now?

Here is a quick roundup of noteworthy music news...Alligator Records to release 'A Blues Christmas' LP on November 6, 2015

Vinyl-only Set Features Koko Taylor, Shemekia Copeland, Marcia Ball,

Elvin Bishop And Many More

Alligator Records has set a November 6 street date for the vinyl-only release A Blues Christmas. The album is a new compilation featuring the best of Alligator's two previous holiday CDs, 1992'sThe Alligator Records Christmas Collectionand 2003'sGenuine Houserockin' Christmas. All tracks onA Blues Christmashave been remastered to bring out every nuance of these classic performances.

Danny Gokey album 'Christmas Is Here' set for release on October 16, 2015

Gokey is now on 3-month international tour in support of new album

On October 16, Danny Gokey will release a collection of holiday songs entitled Christmas Is Here. Recently nominated for the Dove Awards 2015 Song of the Year & New Artist of the Year, Danny follows up his #1 selling sophomore album Hope In Front Of Me, with this finely crafted album featuring original songs and holiday favorites such as "White Christmas" and "Mary, Did You Know?," - all of which showcases the depth and breadth of Danny's artistry as a songwriter and vocalist.

Produced by award-winning music legend Keith Thomas (Burt Bacharach, Amy Grant, The Jam), Christmas Is Here infuses Danny's soulful sound into many of the classic songs of the holidays that will make this anticipated holiday album a fan favorite for years to come.

"My fans have been asking for a Christmas album for years, telling me my voice would be perfect for these songs. Everyone had their favorite songs that they wanted me to include, so we tried to get in as many as possible" says Danny. "I'm really proud of the way it turned out. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year and it's really fun to be able to share it with my fans in this way!"

Each song on Christmas Is Here reverberates with the emotional honesty and life-affirming messages that have become hallmarks of Danny's music. On Monday September 25th, Danny will release the album's first single "Lift Up Your Eyes," a new classic - written by Danny - that can stand alongside holiday favorites thanks to a voice that catapulted Danny into the homes of millions.

Music has shaped Danny's life, providing a sense of purpose and direction. Since earning two chart-topping albums and a Barnes & Noble Top 5 autobiography, Danny launched Sophia's Heart, an organization founded to provide hope and help to homeless families in crisis. Danny is proud of the way Sophia's Heart has expanded to care for a growing number of families each year, including a thriving inner city Music & Arts program in Danny's hometown of Milwaukee, WI.

Danny has toured with Taylor Swift, Sugarland, along with other high profile acts, and to promote Christmas Is Here, Danny is now on a 3-month tour that includes headline dates, a slot on this year's Beating Hearts Tour and a 16-date Christmas tour in December. Tour dates below.

Leslie West and Provogue Records / Mascot Label Group announce November 20, 2015 release for 'Soundcheck'

Album Features West Joined By Jack Bruce, Brian May, Peter Frampton,

Bonnie Bramlett, Max Middleton And Others

Leslie West and Provogue Records, a division of Mascot Label Group, have announced a November 20 release date for Soundcheck. The title is West's sixteenth solo album, following 2011’s critically acclaimed Unusual Suspects, which featured contributions from such accomplished guitarists and close friends as Billy Gibbons, Slash, Zakk Wylde, Steve Lukather and Joe Bonamassa, and 2013’s Still Climbing, which included blistering duets with the late, great Johnny Winter, Jonny Lang and Mark Tremonti. For this new release, West lays down some of his most inspired musical magic to date with the assistance of true rock royalty: the renown British guitarists Peter Frampton and Brian May, ex-Jeff Beck keyboard virtuoso Max Middleton, vocalist extraordinaire Bonnie Bramlett and the late great Cream bassist and longtime friend of Leslie’s, Jack Bruce. Back in 1972, Leslie made musical history with Jack when they joined forces to form the super group West, Bruce and Laing. Soundcheck is co-produced and engineered by West's collaborator Mike "Metal" Goldberg, who he shared, "helped me get my sound down on 'Tape' as they used to say, and did an amazing job as he always does."

Leslie West (born Leslie Weinstein, October 22, 1945) first gained worldwide recognition in 1969 as the guitarist and singer in the groundbreaking rock band Mountain. West’s wholly unique sound, distinguished by beautifully melodic phrasing, his slow, wide vibrato, and a crushing guitar tone set the standard in the late sixties and early seventies for blues/rock guitar playing of the highest order. Along with the hugely influential Top Ten hit “Mississippi Queen,” his brilliant guitar work serves as the driving force behind the Mountain classics, “Nantucket Sleighride,” “Never In My Life,” “Don’t Look Around,” “Blood of the Sun,” “Dreams of Milk and Honey,” and the incredible Jack Bruce composition, “Theme For an Imaginary Western.” That one-of-a-kind signature guitar sound propels Soundcheck throughout, evidenced by such powerful tracks as, “Left By The Roadside to Die,” “Here For the Party,” “Empty Promises--Nothing Sacred,” “Going Down,” “Spoonful,” “A Stern Warning” and five other stellar songs.

Included among Leslie’s many fans and disciples are six-string luminaries such as Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, John McLaughlin, Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre, Warren Haynes, and Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple. Blackmore has stated that Leslie’s phenomenal playing on “Mississippi Queen” served to redirect the course of Deep Purple’s music in an instant, ultimately resulting in the brutal hard rock intensity displayed on Deep Purple In Rock. "I’ve always really loved Leslie West’s playing,” says Blackmore. “I remember being in a place in Germany, and Ian [Paice, DP drummer] and I were out drinking together. In those days, you could go to a club and listen to the new records in their entirety that had just come out. Paice and I heard, ‘Mississippi Queen,’ and we both went white! We were thinking, ‘Who the hell is that?!’ It had such a big sound! For three guys, it was incredibly heavy. And Leslie’s vibrato is just great. Hearing Mountain directly influenced the direction of the Purple, and you can hear that influence on what was to become our next record, [1970’s], In Rock. At the time, we were trying to find our way as a band, some sort of ‘category.’ Jon [Lord, the late DP keyboardist] was into the classical stuff, and, although I love classical music, I wanted to follow up the Deep Purple album, the last one with the original line-up, with something much heavier, out-and-out rock. And that’s how In Rock came about.”

For Martin Barre, meeting Leslie in 1970 served to inspire the writing and playing on Jethro Tull’s most successful album in the band’s history, Aqualung. “Prior to going into the studio to record [1971’s] Aqualung, I met Leslie, whose playing I absolutely loved,” Barre reveals. “Leslie is well known for his association with Les Paul Juniors, and just after meeting him, I picked up a 1958 Junior because his sound was so incredible. I would say that he's the only guitarist who has ever influenced me directly.”

Leslie was also influential in the development of the music for The Who’s masterpiece, Who’s Next. In early 1971, he was invited to record with the Who for the band’s initial NYC Record Plant sessions for the album, which sparked a close friendship with The Who’s leader, Pete Townshend. Says Pete, “Leslie gave me a really great Les Paul Junior with one pickup on it for me to use on Who’s Next, and Eric Clapton gave me an old Strat. They both gave me really good instruments and I still have those instruments today. Along with my Gretsch Chet Atkins, those three guitars were the only ones I used on Who’s Next.”

Another fan of Leslie’s was none other than Jimi Hendrix, with whom Leslie jammed at famed NYC clubs like Ungano’s and elsewhere. “I first met Jimi while I was recording Climbing! at the Record Plant and he was in another room mixing Band of Gypsys,” West recalls. “Jimi came in and after hearing the first track, ‘Never in My Life’ he looked over at me and said, ‘That’s a great riff, man.’ I started shaking! There’s a great picture of us playing together at Ungano’s, and Jimi’s playing Felix [Pappalardi’s] bass. Getting to know and play with Hendrix is one of my greatest life experiences.”

As a soloist, Leslie always displays a solid melodic sense combined with an effortless but equally aggressive rhythmic drive. He leans into the beat using a heavy fret- and pick-hand attack, and along with his heavily distorted guitar tone, generates tremendous power in all of his solos. A great example of this approach is heard on the album’s second track, the aptly titled, “Here For the Party.” “When I’m playing a guitar solo, I’m listening for a ‘song within a song,’” he explains. “Some guys will take a solo and it may be technically amazing, but I’ll think, ‘What does this have to do with the song?’ And I defy anyone to sing back to me the melody of a solo like that! I can’t really play that fast, and I like the solo to be like a little ride that takes you away to another place, and then brings you back. That’s what I look for in a solo.”

And then there’s that legendary vibrato. “The guitar should sound like a voice, and having a good vibrato is essential to me,” West states. “When a first-chair violinist in an orchestra stands up to take a solo, I listen specifically for the vibrato. [Consummate classical violinist] Itzhak Perlman has a fantastic vibrato! That’s what I try to emulate. I worked so hard on getting my vibrato to sound the way I wanted it to. I still work on it, to this day. I don’t work on playing fast, but I sure work on the tone, and I sure work on the vibrato.”

A standout track from this new release is “Going Down,” which features guest appearances from Queen guitarist Brian May, along with contributions from Bonnie Bramlett and Max Middleton along with legendary session players David Hood on bass and Bobby Whitlock on organ. “We did that track about 10, 11 years ago,” Leslie details, “and we had Max reprise his amazing intro from the version he’d done with Jeff Beck on The Jeff Beck Group album. I play the first guitar solo [up to 2:48] and Brian May plays from there on out. And vocal harmonizing with Bonnie was fantastic. Everything in the track came together and worked out really well.” West's old friend Jon Tiven, who produced Wilson Pickett and Don Nix, provided the original master tapes for West to track vocals on. West shares, "When all your ducks are in a row, things get magical."

Another inspired track is the very unusual minor-key rendition of “You Are My Sunshine.” “First of all, I’ve got Peter Frampton playing guitar with me on this one. I watch the television show, Sons of Anarchy, and during one episode, a minor-key version of this song was playing in the background. I thought, Whoa…that sounds so different! I recorded it and sent it to Peter, and we trade solos and then play harmony lines together at the end. Also, I’m playing slide while he’s playing conventionally. His tone is phenomenal on this, with a warm sound and a really nice vibrato, and he loved the arrangement. To take a song you’ve heard all of your life and change it around like this is very cool.”

Soundcheck also includes a cover of the Tracy Chapman hit, “Give Me Just One Reason.” “I wanted to cover a blues song on this record,” says Leslie, “and I liked the tune and wanted to try to do something with it. I like the words, and the groove of the track is a great one to solo over.”

The solo acoustic virtuoso piece, “A Stern Warning,” demonstrates Leslie’s ability to move seamlessly between blues and classical influences; the track also has a connotation that is unexpected. “It’s a reference to Howard Stern,” Leslie reveals. “He called me one day to ask what the meaning was behind the Mountain song, ‘To My Friend.’ I said, ‘It’s about Felix—he gave me a 12-string guitar to play and record a solo piece with.’ So I thought it would be cool to do a new track in a similar way as a tribute to Howard, who has always been a great friend, and this is it.”

In putting the songs together for this record, Leslie also chose to cover the Curtis Mayfield soul classic, “People Get Ready.” “I’ve been playing this song onstage for a long time, slow and quiet, and then I build up the volume and use the volume knob to create violin-like swells. I love the way my bass player Rev [Jones] plays it with me, so I wanted to get it on the album. Incredible words. Also, Jeff Beck had done such a great version of the song, so I took the opportunity to play some different melodies over the chord progression. The song is dedicated Bobby Pace, who was one of my closest friends from way back who had recently passed. He was the first road manager for my first band, The Vagrants, and he was just a great guy.”

Leslie’s previous album, Still Climbing, featured a solo spot for his virtuoso bassist Rev Jones on the track, “Rev Jones Time (Somewhere Over the Rainbow),” and Rev gets another solo spot on Soundcheck with “Eleanor Rigby.” “Rev plays this song live on stage just like this—there are no overdubs at all. It’s his solo spot live, and it’s so great, I wanted to include it on this record. One take!”

Closing out the album is a treasure for all longtime fans of Leslie West: a live version of Willie Dixon’s, “Spoonful,” recorded with Jack Bruce on bass and vocals and Joe Franco on drums, played in the classic Cream style as captured on 1968’s Wheels of Fire. “Back in 1988, I recorded an album called, Theme, which featured Jack on bass. We recorded at Millbrook in upstate New York, and the owner of The Chance in Poughkeepsie called and asked if we wanted to come over and do a set there, with no advertising, no nothing. Jack was into it, and the engineer at Millbrook, Paul Orofino, came with us and recorded the gig with a small portable stereo machine. “After hearing of Jack’s passing, we edited it down from its original length and decided it would be great to include on the record. As you can hear, I was trying to reincarnate myself into Eric Clapton! The first time I listened to Jack’s voice and the tone of his bass on the recording, I had tears in my eyes. I loved Jack so much.”

Two more great tracks complete the album: “Empty Promises--Nothing Sacred,” which Leslie refers to as, “My tribute to AC/DC!,” is another tune in an unusual “modal” tuning that omits thirds. “On my tombstone, it should read, ‘Leslie West: It’s Neither Major Nor Minor,’” Leslie says with a laugh. There’s also a cover of the Ben E. King classic, “Stand By Me.” Leslie wanted to commemorate King, who had just recently passed on April 30, 2015. “Ben E. lived in Teaneck, NJ, not far from me, and I’ve always loved the words to this song. Dave came in and played acoustic guitar on it, and the girl that sings with me on it, Ariela Pizza, is only 16 years old. Her dad, Joe, is an old high school friend of mine, and had written some songs with me for my last album. I thought, I’ll play acoustic and sing along with my big, fat-ass ballsy voice, and I think it would work! And it did—and it’s totally different from everything else on the record.”

West has been performing since 1965, when he fronted the soul-fired Vagrants in his native New York City. Rolling Stone placed him at #66 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists.” His repertoire continues to be relevant with enduring appeal to this day as top selling rap recordings are built around samples from “Long Red,” which appeared on the Mountain album. Jay-Z tapped the tune for his 2004 mega-smash “99 Problems.” So did Kanye West, for "Barry Bonds" and “The Glory," and Common’s “The People,” along with others. Lana Del Rey sampled West's voice and features it in the beginning, middle and end of the worldwide smash "Born To Die." His repertoire continues to be amongst the most sampled amongst all songwriters.

“You know, when it comes to talent, we don’t all move at the same rate of speed,” West muses. “Some people start at the top of their game and after 10 or 20 years you wonder what the hell happened to them. I like to joke that the older I get the better I used to be, but after giving up drugs and smoking, my voice can hit notes that I never could reach before. I’m thankful for that.”